Hen Ogledd’s latest track, ‘Clara’, is peaceful but a wholly serene experience ahead of new album ‘Discombobulated’ releasing February 20th.

Opening with the whirring sound of spooling film roll, a melancholic organ is introduced. After a moment of reflection to begin the track, the tender female vocals of Dawn Bothwell soothe over a piano track and chirring noises, interrupted at times by a deep yet calming โ€œDISCOโ€. Other members of the band join in to harmonise before a saxophone segment.

Following this, Rhodri Daviesโ€™s vocals (now in Welsh as opposed to Bothwellโ€™s English) take the forefront, supported by jingling bells. The song starts to come to a close with a repetition of the first segment: Bothwellโ€™s vocals and harmonising. Finally, the spooling film returns as the singer reads a short poem, the sound of the film eventually fading to signal the end of the track.

โ€˜Claraโ€™ is a peaceful song. Though somewhat doleful, it feels like tranquil solitude. With placid vocals and instrumentation, listening is nothing but a serene experience. The chirping, whistling sounds in the background complete the song, creating a vibrant, beautiful palette akin to the feeling of fireflies pulsating in the sky. Hen Ogleddโ€™s fifth studio album ‘Discombobulated‘ releases on 20th February.

Listen to ‘Clara‘ here:




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